Bears sweep Fitchburg State in softball

The Fitchburg State University softball team suffered a pair of one-run setbacks to conference rival Bridgewater State on Saturday in Bridgewater.

The Falcons (6-12, 1-3 MASCAC) fell 5-4 in the opening contest before dropping game two by the score of 1-0 in nine innings in MASCAC action.

In game one, Bridgewater State (10-10, 3-1 MASCAC) rallied for four runs in the fifth inning en route to the win.

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the first innings as junior Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg High) led off with a double to left-center and scoring on a Bridgewater State miscue, before Marissa Gemma (Leominster High) and Amanda Whitelaw crossed the plate on a sacrifice bunt and a bases-loaded walk for the 3-0 advantage.

Bridgewater State rallied in the fifth , scoring four times, then added an insurance run in the following inning to take a 5-3 lead.

The Falcons battled back in the final inning as Gemma led off with a double before Whitelaw connected on a one-out single. Gemma eventually scored on a groundout to second base off the bat of Binnal,l but Bears pitcher Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy) retired the final hitter to preserve the victory.

Forgues led the Falcons offensive efforts, finishing 3 for 4 with one run scored, while freshman Tori Cyrus posted a pair of hits and Binnall added two RBIs. On the mound, sophomore Brittany Whiting pitched well for Fitchburg State, allowing just one earned run on seven hits to go along with a season-best 11 strikeouts.

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In the nightcap, Bridgewater State junior Amber White out-dueled Falcon starter Kerry Alcott, who gave up one unearned run on eight hits and struck out eight.

The Bears loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning and ended the contest with a single to center.

Sophomore Colleen Flaherty collected two hits in the game, while Whitelaw and Cyrus added one each.

Fitchburg State returns to action on Tuesday as it hosts Eastern Nazarene College for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.

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